Remember

Title: Remember: have in or be able to bring to one's mind an awareness of (someone or something from the past).

I tried screaming to the woman who had gone before me to help out but my mouth was covered by a dirty hand. 

“Stop screaming, beautiful girl. Your ass was on display so we thought you needed help with it”

Maybe my nightgown was wet enough to reveal my buttocks. 

I couldn’t see the face of the man talking because of the darkness. His stinking breath made it obvious that he was probably a homeless man.

“If you don’t scream, I’ll remove my hand. Be a good girl and don’t scream” I nodded fearfully.

Once he removed his hand, I let out a scream for help. The next thing I felt was a sting on my face. He slapped me hard twice. Before I could process what was going on, his hand was on my leg, trying to pull my gown up my thigh.

“Help! Help me please!!” I screamed out trying to get away from him but the guy didn’t bulge. 

“You better stop screaming now, young lady or else you’ll be in bigger trouble” Another voice said.

As I turned, I saw a man camping with a lamp. He looked dirty and tattered, his teeth were brown and his hair was messy. 

“Please let me go, please” I begged 

“No! Not until we have a taste. You look delicious, let us have a piece of your virgin cake” The other man said. He was touching my face and I felt nauseated at the smell coming out of his body. The other man had already started touching himself while grinning at the unfolding scene.

“Stop please! Don’t hurt me! I beg you” I cried out. 

My cry for help went to deaf ears as the man forcefully removed my jacket and tried tearing off my nightgown. 

“Stop! Stop!!” I bit the ear of the man as it was the closest of his body part and before I could say anything, he punched me hard on my stomach. I fell to the ground, holding my stomach that was burning away with pain.

Tears were falling heavily from my eye and the last thing I wanted to do was let go of the 15 dollars and the paper with me. I held on tightly to it while I asked for help with the strength left in me.

“You should’ve listened, girl. I wouldn’t have had to do that to you” He moved closer and tried pulling my grown up once more. I fought hard with the little strength left in me, kicking him hard with my legs. 

Suddenly, I remembered the knife I had found in the pocket of the jacket. I tried reaching out to it but it was too far away from my arm’s length.

“Stop, Stop” I screamed out as he successfully pulled up my gown. He was smiling widely, revealing his dirt, rotten teeth. He licked his lips at the sight of my panties. 

His other friend with the lamp, placed it beside the wall and started to remove the belt of his trousers. 

“The lady told you to stop, didn’t she?” A new voice asked. The man was dressed in an expensive black suit and due to the dim light, I couldn’t see his face. 

“Go your way, rich man and let us have fun with her. She didn’t come complaining to you, did she?” One of the men asked. 

“Please, they’re trying to hurt me,” I told the man. Once I realized the man trying to rape me had moved a bit away, I crawled to the wall, away from home 

“Go away before you regret it” The homeless man who had come in with the lamp removed a knife and flashed it at the guy in the suit. 

The man in suit raised his hand in surrender and turned as if he was going to walk away for real only.

I was about to burst out in tears at my misfortune when the man in the suit suddenly turned back and brought out a gun. Before the men could move towards him, he raised the gun up and shot it up into the air.

I watched as both men scramble and run away leaving their lamp behind. I was still shivering from the fear. 

“What are you doing here at this time of the night, girl?” The man helped me up my feet and put the jacket back on me.

“I’m going to someone’s place” I replied gently and showed him the paper. 

“Wearing this?” He asked rhetorically, sizing me up.

“Something bad happened” I tried holding back my tears but one tear managed to escape. 

He quickly brushed it off with one of his long fingers and immediately his finger made contact with my skin, I shivered with lust.

Not knowing why, but I knew I could trust him. 

“Come on, let’s go” He held my hand and walked me out of the alley. When our hands met, I felt an electric wave run through my body. I loved how my hand fitted in his. 

Once we got to where there was light and I looked up to see who my Saviour was, I was mesmerized.

His blue eyes bore into mine as I kept on staring at the most beautiful face I had ever seen in my life. His jawline was so perfect that I wanted to run my tongue through it. 

I swallowed hard, swallowing my stupid thoughts with my saliva. 

He unfolded the paper he had gotten from me and read through it. 

“You’re going to Maiden lane, right?” He asked and I nodded. 

“Let’s go” He headed towards where I could get a cab. 

Once a cab stopped, he opened the door for me,  allowing me to settle in before closing the door.

He went on to pass the address to the cab man and even paid him. 

“What’s your name?” He asked me. 

“Beverly” I replied, giving him my middle name. 

“Okay Beverly. This gentle man” He said pointing to the cab man. “Will make sure you get to that address you’re going to. One of my men would also make sure you get home by following your cab. Take care of yourself out there, little one. Be safe” He whispered the last part and left the side of the cab.

The cab started moving and I closed my eyes, drowning myself in his smell, retelling his touch and recollecting what he looked like, trying to paste his face to my brain for a long period, promising myself never to forget his face.